ADA Accommodation Requests

If you are a person with a disability and plan to participate in a court activity, you may request an accommodation or service from the court. 

The Circuit Court of Cook County is committed to providing persons with disabilities with reasonable and appropriate accommodations consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other state and federal laws. All Cook County court facilities are ADA compliant. 

We will give primary consideration to the requests of individuals with disabilities. Primary consideration means that the court will honor the choice of the individual, unless the court demonstrates that another equally effective accommodation is available, or that the requested accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of court activities or undue financial and administrative burdens.

Request Accommodations

Please use this Request for Accommodation Form to make your request. You should submit your request to the Court Disability Coordinator. If possible, the request should be submitted at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled court activity. Please see the list of Court Disability Coordinator contacts below and submit your Request Form to the appropriate party.

Note: You are not required to use the request form. You may also submit a request in any form, written, verbal or otherwise.

The Court Disability Coordinator will respond in writing or in a format accessible to you, within seven (7) days from the date the request was received. If you do not receive a communication within seven (7) days, you should contact the Court Disability Coordinator.  

You can learn more about requests for accommodations and services in the Circuit Court of Cook County in the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for Persons with Disabilities.

Contact Information for Submitting Requests

    Other ADA Accommodations for Court Participants - Excluding Jurors

    Court Disability Coordinator

    Elena Demos
    Court Disability Coordinator, Office of the Chief Judge
    Email: ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
    Main Phone: (312) 603-1915 
    Fax: (312) 603-9932

    Mail should be addressed to:

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
    Attn: Court Disability Coordinator
    69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
    Chicago, IL 60602

    DHHA Accommodations for All Court Participants

    Deaf & Hard of Hearing Access (DHHA) Requests

    Ann Wohlmuth, CI/CT
    IL-License: Master Level
    Supervisor for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access, Office of the Chief Judge
    Email: ocj.deafhardofhearingaccess@cookcountyil.gov 
    Main Phone: (312) 603-1918
    Video Phone: (312) 603-9187 
    Fax: (312) 603-9932

    Mail should be addressed to:

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
    Attn: DHHA Coordinator
    69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
    Chicago, IL 60602

    All Juror Accommodation Requests - Except for DHHA Accommodations

    Juror Accommodation Requests

    Jury Disability Coordinator
    Disability Coordinator, Office of Jury Administration
    Email: jury.ada@cookcountyil.gov 
    Main Phone: (312) 603-5879
    Fax: (312) 603-5460

    Mail should be addressed to:

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of Jury Administration
    Attn: Disability Coordinator
    50 West Washington Street, Suite 1000
    Chicago, Illinois 60602

    Frequently Asked Questions

      Any person participating in a court case or court-related matter may request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Court participants can include but are not limited to:

      • Jurors
      • Parties in a case (litigants)
      • Witnesses
      • Lawyers
      • Someone observing a case

      Court activities include:

      If possible, requests should be made at least 14 days before the date the request is needed.

      Requests should be sent by mail or email, and when needed, they can also be submitted by telephone or videophone to the appropriate contact listed below on this page.

      Please note that there are 3 types of requests:

      • Requests for Juror Access Needs
      • Requests for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Access Needs
      • Requests for all other kinds of ADA Accommodation Needs

      If possible, requests should be made in writing by using the Accommodation Request Form and submitted via email to the appropriate party, listed above on this page. Requests can also be made by telephone if needed.

      Requests for accommodations should be as specific and detailed as possible and include the following information about the accommodation being requested:

      • Date 
      • Time
      • Location 

      The Court Disability Coordinator will respond in writing or in a format accessible to you to confirm the accommodation or service requested within seven (7) days from the date the request was received. If you do not receive confirmation within seven (7) days, you should contact the Court Disability Coordinator.  

      If the response by the Court Disability Coordinator does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may file a grievance. A grievance may be filed at any time, but to address the issue in a timely fashion, it should be made within fifteen (15) business days after the person filing the complaint becomes aware of the action or inaction. While the grievance is being resolved, the judge may give — or you may request — a stay of court proceedings. The grievance procedure is not intended to unreasonably delay the court process. See the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities. 

      The Grievance form should be submitted to:

      OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE, 
      ATTN: COURT DISABILITY COORDINATOR
      69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
      Chicago, Illinois 60602
      ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
      Phone: (312) 603-0241
      Fax: (312) 603-9932

      If the grievance response by the Court Disability Coordinator does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may file an appeal. The appeal should be made within fifteen (15) business days of the date of the Court Disability Coordinator's written response. While the appeal is being resolved, the judge may give — or you may request — a stay of court proceedings. The appeal procedure is not intended to unreasonably delay the court process. See the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities. 

      The Appeal form should be submitted to:

      OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE, 
      ATTN: HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
      69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
      Chicago, Illinois 60602
      ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
      Phone: (312) 603-1903
      Fax: (312) 603-9932

      Elena Demos
      Court Disability Coordinator, Office of the Chief Judge
      Email: ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
      Main Phone: (312) 603-1915 
      Fax: (312) 603-9932

      Mail should be addressed to:

      Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
      Attn: Court Disability Coordinator
      69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
      Chicago, IL 60602